Here is the story:
CANTON, Mass. (Feb. ) - Bobby Brown was ordered on Monday to remain in a county jail until he pays $19,000 in late child support and court fees, his lawyer said. "We're diligently working on getting those funds available from outside sources," said Phaedra Parks, an attorney in Atlanta where Brown currently lives. Parks doubted Brown would get out of jail before Tuesday morning. http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/articles/_a/bobby-brown-arrested-over-child-support/20070226143109990001
Ok, this is what I do not understand. They make this out like it's a huge deal, right? Doesn't Whitney have a crap load of money, too? I do believe that fathers (based on income of the Mom and Dad) should be responsible for providing finacial support; however, if Bobby Brown was a regular Joe and Whitney Houston a regular Jane: No one would be doing anything. Maybe Bobby's license might be taken away, but in jail? Please a regular Joe can not pay child support all his life and guess what? He won't ever go to jail.
Something is wrong with this system. It's broken. Another celebrity in the spot light!!!!
Ceila
Jail and Child Support??
By ceila30 - Posted on February 27th, 2007
That's not quite true. In many states a failure to pay child support will land an individual in jail. It happens in my state all the time.
And it doesn't make a bit of sense. The point is to get these individuals to pay the child support... rather hard to do when they are sitting in jail instead of finding a job and working. Why not hire these child support non-payers to pick up trash along the side of the highways or some such? Then give the funds they receive to those that should be receiving child support from them.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the warm rays of the sun fall upon your home."
I am sure that it has alot to do with the fact that he is a celebrity, but it does happen to regular people to. There are states that will arrest someone for not paying child support, Bobby Brown is not the only one. Unfortunately people don't believe paying child support is important and to people like Whitney Houston might not need it but others do. And I think that it needs to be a bigger issue that if it isn't paid something should happen, unless the person is unable to pay, Like they really do not have a way of any income.
I think the law varies from state to state, as nobody around here would get sent to jail if they couldn't pay child support (oh, how full the penetentiary would be...). It does seem like they're blowing it out of proportion because he's a celebrity. This is another one of those things that you wonder if it should even be news, because if it were an everyday person, nobody would care.
I know people can be thrown in jail for not paying child support, but does it really happen? I know a woman who has not gotten child support from the (WORKING)father in over 3 years. She has gone to court, he now has arrears and even after she turned him in for driving without a license (that was taken away because of a DUI and not given back because of his not paying child support). Nothing was done, not one thing.He continues to work under the table to avoid child support, what gives? Should they be put in jail, well I'm sure there is a more efficient way. My point, of course, is like Jhesy said, "if it were an everyday person, nobody would care." and nothing would be done.
Ceila
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ceila30
I think if a father is working, he should be punished for not paying child support. The jerkoff should be thrown in jail and then take away every penny he has. Then they should make him work the highways to continue to pay for it throughout the years.
It does depend on the state. Here, in Seattle, fathers (and mothers) who do not make court ordered support payments do get arrested. The courts do wait until there is a certain debt owed, and are flexable on payments. I think it is a good idea because it motivates individuals to be supportive, and also helps lower the number of people on welfare.
What if a father is behind on child support payments but is continually paying what he can? Can he be arrested for not paying in full even though he is paying something? I think this is unfair. If the man is paying what little he can afford and is constantly keeping up with his visitations, why should he be forced to pay in FULL if he obviously doesn't have the money? I mean, he isn't a deadbeat dad. He keeps his receipts, spends time with his child (which, unfortunately isn't enough time), and tries his best to meet the financial requirements of the order. However, with today's economy,how can he be expected to pay in full? This is so horrible! Can anyone shed some light on this? Is there a website with information pertaining to this particular situation? can he really be arrested?